FUR-SEAL FISilEKlES OF ALASKA. 321 



were asked in that counection why the ratio of birth is not equal to the 

 ratio ol death, I would state that the laws of consanguinity in the Greek 

 Churcli are such as to retard marriage between the i)opulation,and tliere 

 is on the islands a surplus of women who are not able to find husbands. 

 There are men in this Aleutian chain who would be glad to marry these 

 women if they could become members of the sealing force and share iu 

 the distribution. The people on the seal islands hokl their position as 

 one of great value, and are unwilling to have additional men brought 

 there. It is necessary for the company to employ, by permission of the 

 Secretary, people taken from the Aleutian chain as laborers to do the 

 rougher work. I think a better portion of the people of the Aleutian 

 chain should be permitted to go there and gain settlements on St. 

 George and St. Paul Islands by marriage or importation. It would in- 

 fuse new blood into the inhabitants. It would promote marriage be- 

 tween them and the women. A woman of St. Paul will not marry an 

 Oonalaskan native and return to Oonalaska with him and thereby lose 

 her proportion of this fund. I think it would be well to introduce the 

 young men and restock the islands. 



The Chairman. I think that is a very good suggestion and a very 

 important one. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. The seal island natives get the $40,000 fund and you have to hire 

 other people and pay them extra? — A. Yes, sir; the whole fund is dis- 

 tributed among the natives of St. George and St. Paul. All the extra 

 labor is brought up from the Aleutian chain and is paid for extra, and 

 they are boarded, lodged, and supported by the company. 



Q. Is that by reason of a Government regulation ? — A. No, sir; the 

 only Government regulation iu the matter is simply that they may be 

 taken up there as laborers. 



Mr. 1)UNN. The law giving the natives of St. George and St. Paul 

 the exclusive privilege of doing that sealing work, is it a statute or a 

 Treasury regulation ? — A. It is a Treasury regulation. 



Mr. Felton. If the Aleutian chain of islands are incapable of sus- 

 taining the people, would it not be better policy to remove them to some 

 place where they could be made self-sustaining, rather than sendingthem 

 supplies and supporting them with nothing to do ? — A. The question has 

 a good many sides to it and is one I could not answer immediately. 

 These places are far apart, and you could not remove these people to 

 any place where they would be self sustaining except on the main ter- 

 ritory. On the islands they are supported entirely by fishing and hunt- 

 ing animals of the sea, and by placing them on the main-land my im- 

 pression is they would fall into evil ways and habits and they would 

 depreciate, and perhaps fall into the condition of roving Indians in their 

 habits. 



Mr. Felton. You think they could not live in enforced idleness ? 



The Witness. It would be well to introduce some kind of work 

 among them. They might learn to do certain kinds of basket-work or 

 net-work. I think it would be possible to devise some occupation for 

 these people which would relieve them from the idea that they were 

 simply paupers sustained at the expense of the Government. 



By Mr. Felton : 



Q. Do these islands produce any grass ? — A. Yes ; during the short 

 summer. 



Q, Something would liftve to be imported ?— A. Tbey cau always fisb, 

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